A stretch of nearly 10 kilometres of the Dhaka-Chattogram highway from Kanchpur Bridge to Jatrabari intersection remains blocked this morning, amid the clashes between police and protesters at Shanir Akhra since yesterday afternoon.

Thousands of vehicles were stuck on both sides of the highway at the time filing this report at 10:00am.

Due to the blockade, vehicles are restricted from entering or exiting Dhaka using this highway.

In the Rayerbagh and Shanir Akhra areas, protesters blocked the movement of vehicles, bringing traffic to a standstill.

Clashes between protesters and police have been going on in the Shanir Akhra area since midnight. Vehicular movement in the Jatrabari section has been halted since last night's fire incident at the Hanif Flyover toll plaza.

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Situation still tense at Shanir Akhra

Thousands of commuters were walking from the Signboard area of Narayanganj to Jatrabari in Dhaka.

Protesters have parked vehicles at six points along the highway, blocking other vehicles from passing.

In the Rayerbagh area, protesters were on the road, stopping vehicles from moving, including passenger-carrying rickshaws.

Most of the stranded vehicles were trucks and buses.

Protesters were preventing pedestrians from taking photos and videos with their mobile phones. No law enforcers were present on the highway.

Jalil Hossain, a commuter travelling from Cox's Bazar to Dhaka, said, "After reaching the Kanchpur Bridge, all the passengers were asked to get off the bus. The driver said there is a protest ahead and the bus will not go any further."

He said he reached Jatrabari from the Kanchpur Bridge using rickshaws.

Savar-bound truck driver Sentu Mia said, "I've been stuck in Matuail since 2:00am. The protesters have blocked the vehicles. It's been seven hours, and I'm still stuck in the same place."

Didar Hossain, an employee at a private firm, said, "I walked from the Signboard area to Jatrabari for over an hour. The intense heat is making me feel sick. There are no buses running from Jatrabari. I have no idea how I'll get to my office in Mohammadpur."

Jalal Uddin, a driver of the Hanif Paribahan bus service from Cox's Bazar to Dhaka, said, "I've been stuck in the Shanir Akhra area since 4:00am. All the passengers have been forced to walk to their destinations. There's no way to turn the bus around and drive back."